Bi-flush toilet apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hinged barrier for installation in the flush tank of a toilet. The barrier is latched in a sealing position by a magnet and cooperating magnet latch plate. When the barrier is released from the latched position by a chain operatively connected to the flush handle, flotation on the barrier produces sufficient buoyancy to hinge the barrier out of contact with the bottom surface of the flush tank and permit substantially all of the water in the tank to pass through the flush ball valve. For partial flushing action, the flush control handle is moved over a lesser portion of its total travel, resulting in the flush ball being lifted from its seat and the magnetic latch retaining the barrier in the sealing position. Therefore, only that portion of the water in the flush tank above the upper level of the barrier, and within the barrier itself, is utilized in the flushing action.

United States Patent [191 Gruenhagen BI-FLUSH TOILET APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Henry W. A. Gruenhagen, 2030 Ebers St., San Diego, Calif. 92107 [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 361,974

[52] 10.8. C1. 4/67 A, 4/34, 4/37 [51] Int. Cl E03d 1/34, E03d 5/02 [58] Field of Search 4/67 A, 67 R, 18, 26, 27, 4/28, 34, 35, 36-38 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,323,703 l2/19l9 Linfoot v 4/37 UX 2,628,362 2/1953 Birkmaier 4/67 R X 3,041,630 7/1962 Williams 4/67 A X 3,662,408 5/l972 Knudtson 4/67 A 3,731,324 5/1973 Moun 4/67 A X 3,732,577 5/l973 Moon 4/67 A X Oct. 22, 1974 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrown and Martin 5 7] ABSTRACT A hinged barrier for installation in the flush tank of a toilet. The barrier is latched in a sealing position by a magnet and cooperating magnet latch plate. When the barrier is released from the latched position by a chain operatively connected to the flush. handle, flotation on the barrier produces sufficient buoyancy to hinge the barrier out of contact with the bottom surface of the flush tank and permit substantially all of the water in the tank to pass through the flush ball valve. For partial flushing action, the flush control handle is moved over a lesser portion of its total travel, resulting in the flush ball being lifted from its seat and the magnetic latch retaining the barrier in the sealing position. Therefore, only that portion of the water in the flush tank above the upper level of the barrier, and within the barrier itself, is utilized in the flushing action.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 013221924 Fig. 6

1 BI-FLUSH TOILET APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous devices have been proposed for use in producing two volumes of toilet flush. The early devices so proposed were primarily directed to the objective of saving money by reducing the amount of water consumed. The saving is based upon the premise that less than the full flush tank capacity is necessary to produce an adequate fluid waste flush. Therefore, by providing the user with an option between a high and low water volume flushing action, considerable water, and therefore expense, could be saved.

In recent years, a new emphasis has been given to the development of such devices in that it has now been recognized that ecological considerations are even more persuasive than the economic. The potential savings in water, if all toilets were equipped with a dual volume flushing arrangement, are sufficiently great that the overall improvement in the ecology which would result from the reduced consumption of fresh water reserves, and the reduced discharge of sewage would have a significant, beneficial impact on the overall ecological situation. However, despite the clear and recognized need for such a device, there has been no such device produced and marketed which satisfies the multiple operating and economic requirements for devices of this character.

A principal defect of prior art devices has been the fact that they are not easily adaptable to existing toilets. Most prior art devices require modification of the basic toilet structure or hardware in order to obtain the benefits of the invention. For example, in some prior art devices, a new flush operating handle having a high and low flush operating position may be necessary. Similarly, it has been proposed that new valve seat and an offset column be utilized in conjunction with a second float valve and seat so that either the upper or lower float valve can be selected for flushing.

Many prior art devices have not been configured to avoid conflict with various toilet hardware such as the standpipe and valve seat, and therefore must be modifled or a plurality of models provided to accommodate a reasonable percentage of existing toilets. Additionally, many prior art devices have utilized complex structure and have otherwise been susceptible to failure in service so that the device either renders the toilet inoperative or fails to produce a low volume flush as required.

It is therefore desirable to have a bi-flush toilet apparatus which is simple in construction and installation, which is adaptable to a large percentage of existing toilets, and which has a long service life with minimum maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides apparatus that is adaptable to substantially all existing toilets having a vertically traveling flush ball valve. The apparatus is economical to produce and has relatively few moving parts. The apparatus is susceptible to installation by unskilled persons and has a life expectancy substantially as long as the other toilet operating hardware.

The exemplary embodiment incorporates a barrier which comprisesa contoured sleeve. The barrier is sized to enclose the toilet flush ball valve and seat as well as the standpipe and associated mounting hardware. The configuration insures that the barrier may be oriented to avoid conflict with any of the bolt heads that are utilized to secure the flush tank to the toilet bowl. The lower terminal edge of the barrier seals against the bottom surface of the toilet bowl. A magnet carried on the barrier holds against a magnet latch plate secured to the toilet tank bottom to maintain the seal of the barrier until the magnetic action is released. The barrier is raised and the magnetic latch released when a pull chain is raised by the action of the flush handle actuator to the extremes of its travel. The chain pulls on the magnet, and through the magnet on the barrier, to release the magnetic latch and raise the barrier. Flotation on the barrier produces a positive buoyancy, and the barrier floats up against a stop on the standpipe. In the raised position, sufficient clearance exists under the lower terminal portion of the barrier to permit substantially all of the water in the flush bowl to pass through the flush ball valve for a full solid wasste flushing action.

The barrier is carried on a hinge bracket'to provide for conrtolled vertical movement. The hinge axis is spaced from the outer circumference of the barrier so that the movement of the barrier is substantially in a vertical line with little horizontal movement. The hinge bracket is vertically adjustable to insure that the edge of the barrier closest to the hinge axis will touch the tank as the magnet latch is securing, thereby avoiding binding. Thus a good seal is produced around the lower terminal edge each time the full flushing action is complete, leaving the barrier in position for partial or full flushing action.

When partial flushing action is desired, the flush control handle is raised an amount sufficient to lift the flush ball valve off of its seat, but not to a sufficient extent to lift the barrier out of contact with the magnet latch. Therefore, all of the water for the flush must pass through the interior of the barrier. Consequently, only the water that is above the upper terminal portion of the barrier and within the barrier itself will be used. Therefore a reduction in the total quantity of flushing water is realized for purposes of a fluid waste flush.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which is relatively simple in construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which has a long service life and low maintenance requirements.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which is adaptable to a wide variety of existing toilets.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which does not require modification of the basic toilet structure 0 hardware.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus that provides for an adjustment of the partial flushing water quantity.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which provides highly reliable bi-level flushing operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bi-flush toilet apparatus which may be easily installed by unskilled persons.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following-detailed description, together with the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top'plan view of a flush tank with the biflush apparatus installed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but with the structure in full flush position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2. t

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2, showing the retaining magnet secured.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but with the magnet released.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a toilet flush tank 10 with a bi-flush toilet apparatus 12 installed therein. The standard toilet apparatus illustrated includes the flush ball valve 16 on valve seat 18. Vertical stem 60 is received in a guide bracket 58 supported on the stand pipe 56. Chain 62 connects the flush handle actuator 66 to the stem 60 on the flush ball valve 16. Inlet pipe 71 conveys water and supports an inlet valve 70. The valve 70 is controlled by the action of a float 68 through float support rod 72.

The bi-flush toilet apparatus 12 comprises a barrier 14 carried on a hinge bracket 22. Hinge bracket 22 is received over hinge pins 26, fixed in hinge block 24 which is secured to the floor of the toilet tank 10. Hinge bracket 22 is positioned vertically on the hinge pins 26 by upper rubber grommets 28 and lower rubber grommets 30. On the diametrically opposed side of barrier 14 from the hinge bracket 22, there is positioned a float 20. Float is adjusted vertically by screws 52 received in vertical slots 50 in flanges secured to the float 20.

The barrier 14 carries a magnetic latch 36 which cooperates with a magnet latching plate 32, secured to the bottom surface of the tank 10. The magnet latch 36 is carried on a support bracket 34. An attachment portion 42 of the magnet 37 is received through a bore in bracket 34. The attachment portion 42 includes a transverse bore 44 and a slost 46 through which a ball and a link portion of a ball and link-type chain 48 is received. An axial bore in the attachment portion permits the ball to move vertically in the attachment portion for retention therein. The chain 48 passes through a rubber sheath 45 positioned over the attachment portion 42, and has a lower terminal portion 47 that contacts the upper surface of bracket 34 when the magnet 37 is out of latching engagement with the magnetic latch plate 32. The magnet 37 is positioned between armature bars 39. The bars 39 are connected to the magnet and attachment portion 42 by a flange 40. When the barrier 14 floats upwardly under the influence of the flotation chamber 20, a limit stop 64 secured to stand pipe 56 is contacted and thereby the vertical movement of the barrier 14 is limited.

Referring now most particularly to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an inlet valve float support bracket 90 which is received and secured over the upper terminal edges of the tank 10 by attachment portions 92. The rod 72 of theinlet valve float is received and supported in notch 94 of the inlet valve float support bracket when the water level 17 drops to that level.

Referring most particularly to FIG. 1, the positioning of the barrier to avoid a plurality of bolt heads 73 is illustrated. None of the bolt heads 73 are contacted by the lower terminal portion of the barrier, and therefore a good seal with the bottom of tank 10 is insured.

In FIG. 1, the hinge bracket 22 is illustrated as comprising two legs 23 which space the barrier 14 from the hinge 24. The legs are of an L-shaped, flange configuration for strength and are spaced and connected by leg 25. Leg 25 includes two holes spaced for positioning over the pins 26.

OPERATION In use, the apparatus of the invention is installed in a conventional toilet by draining the water from the tank 10 and inserting the barrier 14 so as to avoid bolt heads 73. The shape of the barrier in a configuration substantially that of an oval, with one end enlarged, results in a barrier that may be positioned over widely varying bolt patterns without necessitating an excessively large barrier configuration. The barrier position determines the location for the hinge block 24 which is then cemented to the bottom surface of the tank. Grommets 28 and 31) are positioned on pins 26 so as to insure that the barrier will seal around all of the lower terminal edge in the sealing position, and will not be raised so as to allow the admission of water adjacent the hinge, or depressed so as to raise the opposing edge.

The magnet latch plate 32 is also cemented in place directly below the magnetic latch 36. Stop 64 is installed on the standpipe 56 to prevent upward movement of the barrier beyond a predetermined limit, thereby avoiding interference of the barrier 14 with the other toilet hardware. Chain 48 is secured to the flush handle actuator arm 66 in one of the available holes, and adjusted to a length so that at the very extreme of handle rotation, the magnetic latch 36 will be raised approximately one quarter of an inch out of contact with the magnet latch plate 32. The rubber sheath 45 is lowered over the chain 48 and magnet attachment portion 42 to retain the two in association. Finally, the inlet valve support bracket 90 is placed in position and secured over the upper terminal portions of the tank 10. The device is now ready for operation.

For a normal full solid waste flush, the flush handle is rotated to its full travel so that the arm 66 pulls the chain 48 taut and lifts the magnetic latch 36 out of contact with the latch plate 32. With the magnetic latch 36 released, there is sufficient flotation, by virtue of the float chamber 20, to raise the barrier up against the stop 64. The raised barrier 14 has a sufficient gap under its lower terminal portion to allow all of the water in the tank 10 to flush through the flush ball valve 16. Just prior to the last water draining from the tank to the level of the valve seat 18, the magnetic latch 36 will again take hold of the magnet latch plate 32. Adjustment of the float 20 may be accomplished as necessary to insure that this latching takes place prior to the float valve ball 16 floating down unto seat 18 and discontinuing the flush. Thus the barrier 14 is ready for a subsequent flush.

For partial flushing action, the flush handle, and therefore the flush handle actuating arm 66 is raised only that amount necessary to lift the valve ball 16 from its seat. Thus the chain 48 does not become taut and does not draw the magnet shoulder flange 40 up against the bottom surface of the bracket 34. Therefore, the magnetic latch is not broken and the barrier 14 remains seated against the bottom of the tank 10. The volume of the partial flush is determined by the volume of the barrier 14 and the level of the water 17 above the top of the barrier. It has been found that approximately one and one half gallons provides an adequate fluid waste flush, and the apparatus of the invention may be adjusted to produce this flow by adjustment of the standing water level 17 to produce approximately one and one half inches of water above the level of the barrier 14. If such adjustment is not desirable or possible, it is possible to sever a fraction of an inch from the upper portion of the barrier using common household scissors, for example, so that an additional portion of the water in the tank drains through the barrier and float ball valve 16. The barrier 14 may be made of relatively light material to facilitate this cutting since the barrier is not required to carry any structural loads.

During either partial or full flush, the inlet valve float ball 68 is prevented from floating down to its usual lower point by the inlet valve float support bracket 90. The bracket 90 permits sufficient downwardtravel for the float ball to insure full flow through the inlet valve 70 and merely limits the lower extremes of the travel which are not, in any case, effective to control valve 70 in unmodified operation.

It should be noted that whereas in the preferred embodiment magnetic latching means 36 have been utilized, and whereas these latching means are particularly advantageous for such use, it is nevertheless possible to utilize other latches for this purpose, such as a mechanical spring-loaded latch. The magnetic latch operation selected for the preferred embodiment produces consistent latching over a long lifetime, and provides a sufficiently strong hold through the use of a permanent magnet with armature bars 39 to avoid inadvertent raising of the barrier and the consequent excessive flushing action. The attachment portion 42 of the magnet 36 passes through an oversize hole in the bracket 34, thereby providing sufficient freedome of angulation and vertical movement to insure proper seating of the magnet against the magnetic latching surface. When the barrier is in the raised position, the magnet 36 is suspended from bracket 34 by the rubber sheath 45.

Having described my invention, I now claim:

1. In an apparatus for producing a high volume flush and a low volume flush in toilets having a flush tank, flush control handle and flush ball valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

barrier means comprising a vertically extending water impervious sleeve for surrounding said flush ball valve and sealing against the bottom of said tank excluding a portion of the water in said tank from passing through said flush ball valve,

said barrier means is buoyant when immersed in water,

support means for permitting limited guided vertical movement of said barrier under the influence of the buoyancy of said barrier to lift said barrier out of sealing engagement with the bottom of said tank and permitting substantially all of the water in said tank above the level of said valve to pass under said barrier and through said valve,

latch means on said barrier for releasably securing said barrier in said sealing position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said support means comprises a hinge means for attachment to said tank and a hinge bracket connecting said hings means to said barrier,

said hinge means having a substantially horizontal hinge axis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the buoyancy of said barrier is provided by a float secured to said barrier.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said float is secured on the side of said barrier opposite said hinge bracket.

5. Apparatus according to claim ll wherein:

said latch means is operatively connected to said flush control handle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said latch means comprises a cooperating permanent magnet and magnet latch plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

a magnet support bracket on said barrier adjacent the lower edge of said barrier,

said latch means comprises a permanent magnet,

said permanent magnet having a lifting flange for engagement with the underside of said magnet support bracket, and an attachment portion protruding through said bracket,

said latch means having an adjustable length of chain with a plurality of links,

one of said links of said chain adjacent a first end thereof is secured in said attachment portion of I said magnet,

the second end of said chain is operatively connected to said flush control handle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said chain comprises a ball and link chain,

the first ball of said chain being received through a transverse bore and a slot in said attachment portion of said magnet,

a locking rubber sheath received over said attachment portion,

said sheath supporting said permanent magnet by engagement with the upper surface of said bracket.

i= l= l =l i= 

1. In an apparatus for producing a high volume flush and a low volume flush in toilets having a flush tank, flush control handle and flush ball valve, wherein the improvement comprises: barrier means comprising a vertically extending water impervious sleeve for surrounding said flush ball valve and sealing against the bottom of said tank excluding a portion of the water in said tank from passing through said flush ball valve, said barrier means is buoyant when immersed in water, support means for permitting limited guided vertical movement of said barrier under the influence of the buoyancy of said barrier to lift said barrier out of sealing engagement with the bottom of said tank and permitting substantially all of the water in said tank above the level of said valve to pass under said barrier and through said valve, latch means on said barrier for releasably securing said barrier in said sealing position.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said support means comprises a hinge means for attachment to said tank and a hinge bracket connecting said hings means to said barrier, said hinge means having a substantially horizontal hinge axis.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the buoyancy of said barrier is provided by a float secured to said barrier.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said float is secured on the side of said barrier opposite said hinge bracket.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said latch means is operatively connected to said flush control handle.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said latch means comprises a cooperating permanent magnet and magnet latch plate.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: a magnet support bracket on said barrier adjacent the lower edge of said barrier, said latch means comprises a permanent magnet, said permanent magnet having a lifting flange for engagement with the underside of said magnet support bracket, and an attachment portion protruding through said bracket, said latch means having an adjustable length of chain with a plurality of links, one of said links of said chain adjacent a first end thereof is secured in said attachment portion of said magnet, the second end of said chaIn is operatively connected to said flush control handle.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: said chain comprises a ball and link chain, the first ball of said chain being received through a transverse bore and a slot in said attachment portion of said magnet, a locking rubber sheath received over said attachment portion, said sheath supporting said permanent magnet by engagement with the upper surface of said bracket. 